Chasing Magic

Disney Princess: Merida #1

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Gurihiru (Illustrator)

Merida loves archery, but she has never had a friend who can shoot as well as she can... untilnow. She's thrilled to welcome her visitor, Cat, to Castle DunBroch. The only problem is that her new friend is also great at seweing, singing, and everything Merida is not! But when a dark force tries to harness the magic from te Highlands, Merida must set aside her jealousy and help Cat - and follow her fate.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Adventure, Young Adult, Childrens, Friendship

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2016

About the author

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen is an award-winning children's book author whose books include Duck Duck Moose, Chicks Run Wild, Pirate Princess, Hampire!, and the forthcoming Orangutangled. She visits schools around the country to talk about the craft of writing to children of all ages. "Every book is an autobiography" is a favorite saying of hers, and a big part of her message is that everyone, grownup or child, has a story that is interesting and compelling—if you can find the right words to tell it. Sudipta lives outside Philadelphia with her children and an imaginary pony named Penny. You can learn more about her and her books on her website www.sudipta.com or at her blog www.NerdyChicksRule.com.

Reviews

[CP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute but not for us. Wolfie likes spooky or silly stuff mostly.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this first title in a new chapter book series, Merida is excited to meet Cat when she and her royal family visit Castle DunBroch. But Cat seems to be more adept at everything than Merida, and she feels jealous of her new friend's talent. Merida is always able to see the wisps that lurk near the forest, but someone who is accompanying Cat has designs on those wisps and plans to use them for the wrong purposes. For the right audience--second to fourth graders--this book will have many charms since its heroine is imperfect while also being bold, brave, and adept at archery, a sport that isn't typically enjoyed by females. I liked the playful exchanges between Merida and her mother, the queen, and the warmth provided by all the adults in her life. I know little about the Brave movie and its popularity so I can't speak to how faithful the story is to the characters in the film. I liked it well enough but found it expectedly predictable.

[Elissa Schaeffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my almost 5-year-old and we both enjoyed it. There was more of a story than I was expecting, which made me happy, and it was about Merida, which made my daughter happy. One of the better Disney chapter books I've read.

[Danalli Calhoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute book. I read it to my 4 year old, and he absolutely loved the story.

[Damita Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merida: Chasing Magic is a delightful and heartfelt addition to Merida’s story that captures everything I love about her—fierce independence, stubborn loyalty, and a brave heart that grows when it matters most.

Merida has always been confident in her archery skills, so watching her struggle with jealousy when Cat arrives felt incredibly real and relatable. Cat isn’t just a talented archer—she shines at sewing, singing, and all the things Merida avoids, which creates a wonderfully authentic tension between the two girls. Their dynamic adds emotional depth and shows that insecurity doesn’t disappear just because you’re strong or skilled.

What truly elevates this story is how Merida learns to face those feelings when a dark force threatens the Highlands. The magic, danger, and sense of fate are woven beautifully into the plot, and Merida’s choice to put jealousy aside to protect someone else feels earned and powerful.

This book delivers a strong message about friendship, self-acceptance, and understanding that being different doesn’t mean being lesser. It’s magical, adventurous, and emotionally satisfying—an absolute must-read for fans of Merida and stories about finding strength beyond competition.

[Starr]

Merida is told that the Lord of Cardonagh is visiting to sign a treaty. His is also bringing his heir. Their parents are hoping for a lifelong bond to form. Merida is worried until she discovers that the heir is Cat, a girl she has a lot in common with. They become instant friends and must face a dark force together. Merida is my favorite Disney princess- mainly because she is the least likely to act like a princess. I like her wildness and her struggles are relatable. In this story, she struggles with being a good friend even when she's jealous. I am known to be anti-princess stories, in reality I hate princesses without substance and depth. I will be fine if my daughter is not as fond of Merida as I am, but I do look forward to sharing this story with her.

[Mariam Mirza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Merida! Her bravery, her quirks of archery! Seeing her find a friend who shares her interests was so fun. The best part for me was that lifelong relationship does not always mean an arranged marriage. Merida's parents spoke of a lifelong relationship in the sense of her friendship with Cat, and that was beautiful. So many people only think of marriage as lifelong relationships but friendship is also one!

I felt that it was humbling to see Merida trust her gut and have confidence. Great lessons for anyone to understand.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wisps lead Merida to her fate--Catriona, a visiting royal from another area. Sweet, funny, wonderfully in character (except a bit of Eleanor--major charactor transformation there), reads like fanfic.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

really cute. Perfect for 7-13

[J.X. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Goodwill find for mere pennies that would have been worth retail price. Wouldn't mind reading more of the series if it's the same level of quality (and if Catriona comes back)!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. And very interesting read this book

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read. I read for my daughter and while I was waiting to get to the library to check out my next book.

[E. Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Random, useless, sexist comment at the end about chatty women. Why was this necessary?

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for your intermediate chapter book readers, 2nd-4th grade. It is well written and is of high interest due to the Disney connection. Merida is a strong female role model for girls and will appeal to them more than the boys. It confronts jealousy and friendship in an easy to understand format. I would rate this book as 4 stars due to the strong characters.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

rated by my 5.75 yr old daughter, I loved how Merida finally got a friend just like her.

[Shontel Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my daughter, she loved it! She was glad to see Merida finally found a friend that's interested in archery also!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable and quick read that spins further tales of competition and friendship for Merida, princess of DunBroch.